An economics major and courses in theatre helped guide A. Bestor Cram to lead a nonfiction production company committed to examining the consequences of the lives we lead as evidenced through the documentary arts. He began his film studies at Denison before there was a department. As a senior, he created an independent study with Alan Shevlo ’67, launching his journey toward becoming an award-winning independent documentary director/producer/cinematographer. His work commenting on urgent social issues is seen on television and in museums throughout the country. Following graduation, Bestor headed to Quantico, Va., for training as a Marine officer. He became a combat engineer and served in Vietnam from TET ’68 to TET ’69. His tour included mine sweeping, bridge building, battalion intelligence and operations assignments, earning the Navy Commendation Medal. Upon his return to the U.S., he filed a request for reclassification as a conscientious objector, but his contract with the Marines ended before the hearings concluded. He then joined John Kerry and became a leader of Vietnam Veterans Against the War. Following graduate study in England, he worked in MIT’s Film Studies Program and founded Northern Light Productions, a leading producer of media for museums such as the International Spy Museum, the Smithsonian, and the Getty. His most recent broadcast work includes Beyond the Wall about reentry experiences of the formerly incarcerated and Birth of a Movement examining a forgotten battle against the 1915 KKK-friendly silent film The Birth of a Nation. He is working on feature documentaries about a Puerto Rican independence movement, the founding of A.A., and Vietnamese artists interpreting their country’s aftermath. He continues to lecture at various Boston universities and teach at the Maine Media Workshops. Bestor lives in Newton, Mass., with his wife Penny Hauser Cram ’68, a professor at Boston College. They have two children and a grandchild, too many cars, not enough pets, and a garden that begs for more attention.

Bestor Cram has over twenty-five years of experience as a director, producer and cinematographer. He founded Northern Light Productions, which has produced and directed scores of films including broadcast documentaries that concentrate on issues relating to contemporary society, science, art and history. His cinematography credits include the 1995 Documentary Academy Award winner, Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision and the acclaimed feature documentaries After Innocence and Wrestling with Angels: Playwright Tony Kushner; the Emmy nominated Discovery Channel special Mysteries of the Sea: Freak Waves; the HBO special Mumia Abu-Jamal: A Case For Reasonable Doubt?, the PBS/BBC series, China in the Red, and the PBS American Experience on Eleanor Roosevelt. Bestor’s Unfinished Symphony premiered at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival and his current projects include four feature documentaries slated for release in 2008: Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison, The Orangeburg Massacre, Killer Poet and Shoot the Messengers. He is a producer of Singing Revolution, which is currently in theatrical release.

Bestor Cram is an award winning director, producer and cinematographer for television documentaries and museum environments. As a lighting cameraman, Bestor’s shooting forte lies in 16mm and 35mm film as well as extensive use of the DV and HD formats. He studied and lectured with Richard Leacock at MIT, has taught film at Tufts University and the Art Institute of Boston. His 2005 completed feature documentary The Special, about the bluegrass anthem, premiered at the Nashville Film Festival and was selected for AFI’s Silver Docs. His independent documentary Unfinished Symphony: Democracy and Dissent premiered in competition at Sundance and won top honors at festivals home and abroad.